Israeli authorities are investigating the cause of the altercation on the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Israeli media are increasingly characterizing an incident aboard a flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv as a “suspected attack.”
Channels 13 and 14 reported that an Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed the Emirati captain and tried to take control of the aircraft. According to the Israeli reports, members of an additional flight crew who were on board intervened and regained control of the plane.
Israeli officials said the circumstances surrounding the incident were still being investigated, with additional information expected from Saudi authorities.
Meanwhile, Channel 12 quoted an Israeli official as claiming the aircraft had come “a hair’s breadth away from an incident similar to the September 11 events.”
In a similar vein. YNet and Israeli security correspondent Yossi Yehoshua reported that assessments within Israeli security agencies were increasingly pointing to a suspected “terrorist act.”
It is worth noting that the aircraft, which was carrying around 150 Israeli passengers, was diverted to Saudi Arabia. Israeli reports said the passengers and crew were being questioned and were expected to return.
Aircraft initially transmitted squawk code 7700
A flydubai commercial aircraft traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv signaled an emergency shortly before turning around over Saudi Arabia, Israeli media reported on Wednesday, citing flight-tracking data. The cause was later ruled to be mid-air violence.
In a related development, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the flydubai aircraft has landed in Saudi Arabia.
The aircraft initially transmitted squawk code 7700, an internationally recognized signal indicating a general emergency. A short time later, it changed the code to 7500, which signals a hijacking or other unlawful interference, as per Israeli media.
Israeli Air Force fighter jets were scrambled toward the aircraft, Israeli media reported, citing security sources.
The flight was subsequently diverted to Saudi Arabia, and the cause of the distress call was then found out to be a fight that broke out between the pilot and co-pilot.
Israeli security sources told Israeli media that authorities would be able to establish a clearer picture of what had happened aboard the aircraft after it landed.
Channel 14 reported that all takeoffs at Ben Gurion Airport had been temporarily suspended pending verification of the situation.
Source: https://english.almayadeen.net/news/miscellaneous/mid-air-fight-on-flydubai-plane-triggers-hijacking-concerns
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